Levellers

Renewed Nuclear Danger: Respond in Faith, Not Fear

There is no doubt that North Korea’s test of a nuclear weapon today increases the nuclear danger. North Korea is not likely to start a nuclear war. They clearly developed these weapons as a deterrent against perceived U.S. aggression after Bush named them as part of an “Axis of Evil,” and then invaded Iraq. The third member of the supposed “Axis,” Iran, is pursuing nuclear weapons (probably; it says it is only pursuing peaceful nuclear energy, but others have said the same while developing nuclear weapons) for the same reason. But the more nations with nuclear weapons, the greater the danger of accidental nuclear war. And, although Bush’s speeches about North Korea possibly selling nuclear weapons to terrorists is mostly election rhetoric, that danger, however remote, remains a possibility that cannot be ignored.

There are two paths of response: One is fear-based and leads to new nuclear arms races, preemptive wars with North Korea & Iran, and increases the danger to the entire world. As Norman Solomon points out, the attempt to control nuclear weapons by the hypocrisy of “we can have them, but you can’t” isn’t working. And, North Korea’s nuclear test is more a sign of its own weakness and fear than of strength. Weapons experts point out that Pentagon projects encouraged by Bush, to build smaller nuclear weapons for use in conventional wars, is leading us down a path to nuclear war. And Chris Hedges notes that the apocalyptic “rapture” eschatology embraced by Bush makes nuclear Armaggeddon a sign of Christ’s return rather than a blasphemy against Creation. The fear-based path will lead to a cycle of destruction.

A faith-based response places our trust in God, not in weapons. It opposes nuclear weapons for EVERYONE, including the U.S., UK, France, India, Pakistan, Israel (an undeclared nuclear power)–and not just those like North Korea and Iran whom we deem unworthy of the “nuclear club.” If we get rid of the nukes, terrorists cannot use them. Since nukes violate the JWT principles of discrimination (between soldiers and civilians) and proportionality, Just War folk ought to join with pacifists in working to abolish nuclear weapons. The technology cannot be unlearned, but we can refuse to build, keep, or use nuclear weapons. A good place to begin is for individuals and their faith groups to join Faithful Security: The National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear Weapons Danger and work on their campaigns. We should respond to this crisis not as Americans (or Britons, etc.), but as persons of faith. Trusting in “horses and chariots,” as the prophets saw long ago, doesn’t lead to greater security, but to more war. Let’s renounce the nuclear idolatry.

October 9, 2006 Posted by Michael Westmoreland-White | nuclear weapons, peacemaking | 11 Comments